Aqua boot for horses

Abstract

The aqua boot for horses is a device which is designed for rehydration of a horses hoof in order to prevent excessive dryness and cracking of the hoof. The boot is a structured sponge or plastic foam wrap having an inside shoulder for attaching to and conforming to a dehydrated hoof of a horse. The boot is a layer of absorbent foam or sponge material having apertures, adhered to a rubber or vinyl backing material with mating strips of hook and loop fastening material attached to opposite ends of the sponge or foam so that the boot may be wrapped around the horse's hoof. The foam or sponge layer is soaked in water, ice or other moisturizing liquid, lotion, or gel, and wrapped about the hoof with the sponge layer in contact with the hoof.

I claim:  
     
       1. An aqua boot for rehabilitative hydration of a horses hoof comprising: 
       a layer of a plastic foam material having sculptured and apertured sides with an inner upper shoulder and narrow ends, wherein said foam layer has a bottom coating of a waterproof adhesive;  
       a backing layer of rubber or vinyl commensurate in size with said foam layer; and  
       strap means positioned at each narrow end for fastening the aqua boot around a horses hoof;  
       whereby the application of water or ice to the foam layer rehydrates the coronet region and the hoof.  
     
     
       2. The aqua boot according to  claim 1 , wherein said foam layer is configured and structured to have the property of releasing water at a controlled rate. 
     
     
       3. The aqua boot according to  claim 2 , said foam layer further comprising means defining a plurality of apertures therein for assisting in moisture release from said foam layer. 
     
     
       4. The aqua boot according to  claim 1 , wherein said strap means includes hook and loop fastening material. 
     
     
       5. An aqua boot for rehabilitative hydration of a horses hoof comprising: 
       a layer of a plastic foam material having sculptured and apertured sides with an inner upper shoulder and narrow ends, said foam layer having a bottom coating of a waterproof adhesive and being configured and structured to have the property of releasing water at a controlled rate;  
       means defining a plurality of apertures therein for assisting in moisture release from said foam layer;  
       a backing layer of rubber or vinyl commensurate in size with said form layer; and  
       strap means positioned at each narrow end for fastening the aqua boot around a horses hoof;  
       whereby the application of water or ice to the foam layers rehydrates the coronet region and the hoof.  
     
     
       6. The aqua boot according to  claim 5 , wherein said strap means includes hook and loop fastening material.